Do you have a pooch that's paralyzed by anxiety? This post can help! Try these suggestions to ease any troubles in an anxious dog.
When most of us think of anxiety sufferers, we think of humans.
However, our pets can also suffer from anxiety. In fact, a recent study found that 20 to 40 percent of dogs suffer from separation anxiety. Another survey, which looked at over 13,000 pet dogs from Finland, found that 72.5% of dogs expressed anxiety-like behaviors throughout the day.
The image of a dog in distress can be a difficult pill for many pet owners to swallow. The good news is, there are things you can do to calm an anxious dog.
Check out this guide to discover the top things to do to calm an anxious dog.
- Exercise
Anxiety is a great tool for relieving anxiety in humans, and it's also a great tool for relieving anxiety in dogs. Anxiety can cause your dog to pent up extra energy, so taking your dog outside for some exercise can be a nice relief.
Whether it's going for a walk or playing fetch, any type of exercise can help your dog calm down. Additionally, exercise is a great way for you and your dog to spend some bonding time together. Also, just like humans, exercise can be a great way for dogs to relieve stress and boost endorphins.
At a minimum, we suggest giving your dog some exercise before you head out to work, as well as when you get home from work.
- Massage
We all know a nice massage is the perfect way to unwind after a long week.
Well, massages can also work wonders for dogs. Anxiety often causes muscles to tense up, and a massage is a great way to alleviate that tension.
To massage your pup, start at their neck and work your way down their body using long strokes. Try to keep one hand steady on your dog while the other hand does the massaging. After a while, you may be able to identify the parts of the body where your dog holds the most stress and focus on those areas.
If you feel like you aren't doing a good enough job massaging your pet, you can even hire a pet massage therapist to do the job for you.
Petting your pet for a few minutes can also help to ease their anxiety.
- CBD Oil
Some pet owners have found success in treating their dog's anxiety with CBD oil. While a lot of people think CBD and THC are the same, they're actually quite different.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound that comes from the Cannabid Sativa plant. It offers numerous health benefits, but unlike THC, CBD does not get you high. You can check out this trusted help extract website to learn more about the innumerable ways CBD can help both you and your pet.
- Medication
If your dog develops a serious anxiety disorder and you're having trouble helping them control their symptoms through natural means, then medication may be the best solution.
Antidepressants and SSRIs are occasionally prescribed to dogs that suffer from anxiety. Some popular medications prescribed are clomipramine and fluoxetine. If your dog's anxiety is situational, and only occurs during certain events like car rides or thunderstorms, then your veterinarian may prescribe a medication like benzodiazepine along with an antidepressant to cope with the stress. As your pet grows older they to can experience, the same pains as we do. If you find this with your pet, it may be worth looking into Pain Pet Treats that can relieve the pain and have them acting like your pet again.
To figure out if medication is right for your dog, you should talk to your veterinarian.
- Routine
Much like humans, dogs are creatures of habit. Dogs thrive on routine, so if your pooch has a disorganized schedule, it's time to get things back on track.
When a dog can anticipate when he'll eat, go out for walks, and spend time with you, it can make him feel less anxious and nervous throughout the day. Of course, life happens and you can't stick to the same exact routine every day.
But, for the most part, try to feed, exercise, and play with your dog around the same time each day.
- Music
Music can also be a great tool for relieving your dog's anxiety. Music is beneficial for dogs in the same way that it is for humans, in that it can have a soothing and calming effect.
If your dog gets separation anxiety when you leave the house, playing music while you're gone can be a great idea. The same goes for road trips or other events that make your dog feel anxious.
Additionally, music can be a great way to drown out noises that give your dog anxiety, such as construction or fireworks. When it comes to choosing the type of music, we suggest going with classical music.
A recent study found that classical music helps dogs relax. During this study, dogs were split into two groups. One group of dogs remained in their kennels in silence, while the other group had classical music played in their kennels. During the second week of the study, the conditions were switched.
Researchers found that when both groups of dogs listened to music, their stress levels went down. This was evidenced by saliva samples, heart rate measurements, and behavioral observations.
- Calming Coats/Clothing
While most dogs don't like playing dress-up, there are calming coats and clothing items out there that can help your dog deal with its anxiety.
Basically, the calming clothing items apply mild, constant pressure to your dog's torso. It works much in the same way that swaddling a baby does. These calming outfits are recommended for dogs who suffer from anxiety related to travel, noise, separation, or strangers.
Are You Ready to Help Your Anxious Dog?
As you can see, there's a lot that you can do to help your anxious dog. Before you know it, your dog will be a lot less anxious and stressed out.
Be sure to check back in with our blog for more pet care tips and tricks.
